Highway sign post

ABSTRACT

A channel post with its edges flanged outwardly is made in two vertically aligned sections, one of which is anchored in the ground. The sections are coupled together by a clamp in which one part is of channel shape to rigidly embrace the back and sides of the post sections and the other part is a frangible plate ground transversely in the general plane of the parting line between the post sections to induce breakage upon impact against the upper post section tensioning the same. Bolts extend through the back of the channel of each post section to secure the clamp parts together and the lower portion of the plate is friable to relieve the tension upon the lower bolt upon impact.

States Patent Katt 1 June 28, 1974 1 H1GHWAY SIGN POST 3,58 ,019 6/1971 Thomas 287/111 2,905,285 9 1959 G 1' h 287 111 X [76] Inventor: Herbert Katt, 4107 Pennington mu m Racme 53403 Primary ExaminerAndrew V. Kundrat Filed! g- 1972 Attorney, Agent, or FirmAndrus, Sceales, Starke & [21] Appl. No: 279,304 SfiWall [52] US. Cl 403/2, 403/312, 285/4, ABSTRACT 404/10 A channel post with its edges flanged outwardly is [51] 1t. Cl. Fl6b 7/00 d i two vertically aligned Sections one of which [58] held of Search 287/111 DIG 34 285/11 is anchored in the ground. The sections are coupled 285/2, 3, 4, 419, 373; 52/98, 99, 296; together by a clamp in which one part is of channel 404/10; 248/160; 40/125 N, 125 H, 145 A, shape to rigidly embrace the back and sides of the 145 R post sections and the other part is a frangible plate ground transversely in the general plane of the parting References C'ted line between the post sections to induce breakage UNlTED STATES PATENTS upon impact against the upper post section tensioning 1,986,721 1/1935 Froude 40/145 R hiln fi l s x e r shthsbas Of the sh 3,127,870 4/ 1964 Bieber 256/l3.1 UX ne] of each post section to secure the clamp parts to- 0,032 5/1966 Von Gall, Jr. 40/ 125 H gether and the lower portion of the plate is friable to 3,349,531 10/1967 Watson 52/98 UX r lieve the tension upon the lower bolt upon impact. 3,381,427 5/1968 Watson 52/98 3,439,947 4/1969 Luckenbill 287/108 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures HIGHWAY SIGN POST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a highway signpost.

In the past such posts have been constructed of wood 4 inches X 4 inches, and of metal in the shape of cylindrical pipe or tubes, channel, T strips and rectangular tubular construction.

In most all instances the post is installed by driving the same into the ground or by embedding the lower end in concrete.

Such posts are susceptible to damage upon impact from a highway vehicle to such an extent that they are not re-usable' and have to be replaced by new posts. This is the bane of highway maintenance crews who must ever be vigilant and have a supply of entire replacement posts at all times in order that proper traffic control is maintained at all intersections.

Attempts have been made to provide frangible connections between the base of the post and the upright section of the post so that a vehicular impact against a post will break the connection and permit the upper section to drop away without being damaged. It can thereupon be re-installed by merely replacing the connection.

Where the connection is broken and posts are freed upon impact there is an additional danger arising from lack of any control over the movement of the freed post section and sign. In some instances, it may be thrown a substantial distance, perhaps into the path of another vehicle or against even a person standing by. In other instances it may be thrown upwardly over the hood of the vehicle effecting the impact and through the windshield to injure the driver or an occupant of the vehicle. In still other instances it may be thrown to the ground with one end buried and the other sticking upwardly to pass through the floor board and impale the vehicle initiating the impact.

The problem therefore arises with regard to how to make such constructions more safe; how to control the post after it is set free by breakage of the coupling.

Applicant knows of no attempt to solve this problem heretofore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been applied solely to the open channel type post and involves constructing the coupling so that only one part breaks and the other part retains a connection between the upper post section and the fixed base, so that the upper section does not fly free upon impact but instead tips downwardly to the ground and is retained in a reclining position while the vehicle passes over it without undue damage to either.

For this purpose the post should be installed with its open channel facing the oncoming traffic. Then the connection or coupling is comprisedof two parts: one of open channel shape embracing the back and sides of the base and upper post sections adjacent the transverse parting line between the sections, and the other of generally flat plate construction extending across the open front of the adjacent post sections and of the first clamp part.

The clamp is secured in place and rigidly secures the two post sections in alignment by means of a bolt pass- 2 ing through the back of each post section and through the two parts of the clamp.

'Ihe clamp is preferably constructed of cast grey iron or the like having a low tensile strength to facilitate breakage upon impact.

The plate part of the clamp is scored as by a groove extending transversely thereof in the general plane of the parting line between the two post sections to provide a transverse zone of weakness and thereby control the breakage upon impact from an oncoming vehicle.

The plate may be flanged along its vertical edges to fit over the channel post sections and the other clamp part to reenforce the upper channel section against deformation and better maintain the post in upright position.

The upper half of the plate above the groove desirably has a pad or boss thereon, extending into the channular upper post section to reenforce the latter against deformation upon impact.

The lower half of the plate, below the groove, may have a slight boss to strengthen the same against normal tightening of the bolt passing therethrough, but should be of a predetermined weakness to break free of the bolt upon stressing by impact against the upper post section, whereby the lower bolt is free to move forwardly in the channel of the base as the upper section tips downwardly. The lower bolt thereupon bends to accommodate the reclining of the upper post section while maintaining the connection of the two post sections by the channel part of the clamp.

The construction of the post of the present invention controls the upper post section following impact by an oncoming highway vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a post with the ground sectioned showing installation;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the coupling and adjacent portions of the post sections with parts broken away andsectional;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the inside surface of the plate part of the coupling;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the portion shown in FIG. 2, with parts broken away and sectioned;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 taken immediately after impact; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 taken upon the parts coming to rest after an impact.

The post 1 illustrated in the drawing comprises a base section 2 and an upper section 3 supported in vertical alignment with base section 2 by a coupling 4.

The base section 2 and post section 3 are of open channel shape with side edge flanges 5.

The section 2 is generally driven into the ground 6 to rigidly support the post and it has a series of vertically spaced holes 7 in the back thereof for coupling purposes.

The section 2 preferably extends upwardly from the ground approximately six inches, to clear any vehicle that rides thereover.

The upper post section 3 may similarly have a series of vertically spaced holes 8 in the back thereof.

A road sign 9 or the like is secured to the upper end of upper section 3 to face the oncoming traffic on the road, and the open channel of sections 2 and 3 will likewise be oriented to face the oncoming traffic.

The coupling 4 comprises a channel shaped clamp member embracing the back and sides of the post sections 2 and 3, a generally flat clamp member 11 bridging the mouth of the channel of member 10 and of the post sections, a bolt 13 extending through the members 10 and 11 and through the uppermost hole 7 in base post section 2 and a bolt 12 extending through the members 10 and 11 and through the lowermost hole 8 in the upper post section 3.

The bolts 12 and 13 secure the clamp members 10 and 11 rigidly upon the two aligned post sections 2 and 3, and the latter are thereby rigidly connected together upon completion of the installation.

The flat clamp member 11 is scored as by a shallow groove 14 extending transversely across the front surface thereof to provide a predetermined transverse zone of weakness in the general plane of the parting line 15 between the adjacent or abutting ends of post sections 2 and 3.

Additionally the flat clamp member flanges 16 adapted to overlie the outer 5 to confine the latter.

Each flange 16 has a notch 17 therein in the plane of groove 14 to maintain the effectiveness of the groove in determining initial severance of the member 11 at the groove upon impact of a vehicle against the upper post section 3 in a direction tensioning the member.

The inner face of the flat clamp member 11 is provided with a pad or boss 18 surrounding the upper bolt 12 and fitting within the mouth of the channel of upper post section 3 to prevent distortion of the latter upon impact.

Preferably the inner face of the flat clamp member 11 is provided with a shallow pad or boss 19 surrounding the lower bolt 13 to enable the member 11 to resist cracking upon tightening of the bolt 13 in installing the post.

The pad or boss 19, if present at all, should only be sufficient to prevent cracking of the member 11 by tightening of bolt 13 during installation.

The post 1 being of two sections can be installed 11 has side edge edges of flanges more readily than the former one section post. Thus,

instead of requiring two men, one holding the post upright and the other on a truck deck or other raised platform with a driving maul, the present base post section 2 can be held and driven into the ground by a man standing on the ground.

The sign 9 can be secured to the upper post section 3 prior to installation and while the latter is conveniently disposed for that purpose, while with the former single section posts the sign could not be secured to the post until after the post was driven.

When a post 1, installed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, is hit by an oncoming vehicle in the general direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, the tensioning of the plate member 11 will fracture the latter in the region of the groove 14 and parting line 15, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby retaining the upper portion of member 11 securely clamping the lower end of post section 3 in the upper end of clamp member 10.

Thereafter, as the upper section 3 tilts under the impact, bolt 13 becomes stressed and cracks the lower portion of plate member 11, usually vertically, thereby freeing the head or nut of the bolt for movement into the channel of base post section 2 and allowing the upper post section 3 to fall to a declining position as shown in FIG. 7.

As the upper section 3 falls the bolt 13 bends as shown, but continues to maintain connection between the clamp member 10 and the base section 2, thus preventing uncontrolled movement of the upper section 3 and sign 9.

The clamp members 10 and 11 of coupling 4 may be constructed of a reasonably brittle metal such as grey cast iron or the like, and the thicknesses for members 10 and 11 should take into account the yield strength of the channel post sections so that the desired breakage of member 11 at groove 14 will occur prior to bending of the post sections.

Because of the confinement of the lower end of upper post section 3 in the clamp all during the above described operation the upper section 3 will seldom be damaged.

Should the upper end of the base section 2 become damaged, the section can be cut off to position the next hole 7 in the series for receiving a bolt 12 in reinstallation of section 3 with a new clamp member 11.

10 and 11 be damaged The inventiongreatly simplifies and reduces the cost of sign maintainence on highways and the like.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. An open channel post for highway signs and the like, comprising two aligned open channel post sections, one extending downwardly into the ground and terminating just above the surface and the other extending upwardly to support a sign or other object with the open channel of the section facing the oncoming highway traffic and a frangible coupling securing said sections together in alignment, said coupling constituting the sole support for said upper post section upon said lower post section and comprising two complemental relatively brittle clamp members enveloping the adjacent ends of the sections with a bolt passing through apertures in the back of each section and each clamp member centrally of the channel for securing the same tooghter, one of said clamp members comprising a substantially flat plate bridging the open channel of said sections and having a transverse zone of reduced cross-section so as to provide a transverse zone of weakness between said bolts to provide for initial severance in said transverse zone of the one clamp member upon impact against the upper post section in a direction tensioning the said zone subsequent tilting of the upper post after impact stresses its bolt and allows the head or nut thereof to move into the channel upon furlower bolt as by tilting of the coupling upon impact, whereby said lower bolt is freed to move into the channel of said lower post section and to retain said coupling and upper section under control following the impact.

4. The post of claim 1 in which the other of said clamp members is of channel shape confining the back and sides of the adjacent portions of said post sections. 

1. An open channel post for highway signs and the like, comprising two aligned open channel post sections, one extending downwardly into the ground and terminating just above the surface and the other extending upwardly to support a sign or other object with the open channel of the section facing the oncoming highway traffic and a frangible coupling securing said sections together in alignment, said coupling constituting the sole support for said upper post section upon said lower post section and comprising two complemental relatively brittle clamp members enveloping the adjacent ends of the sections with a bolt passing through apertures in the back of each section and each clamp member centrally of the channel for securing the same tooghter, one of said clamp members comprising a substantially flat plate bridging the open channel of said sections and having a transverse zone of reduced cross-section so as to provide a transverse zone of weakness between said bolts to provide for initial severance in said transverse zone of the one clamp member upon impact against the upper post section in a direction tensioning the said zone subsequent tilting of the upper post after impact stresses its bolt and allows the head or nut thereof to move into the channel upon further vertical cracking of the brittle flat plate so as to provide a controlled tilting of the upper post.
 2. The post of claim 1 wherein said one clamp member has a boss on its inner surface engaging within the upper post section to retain the latter against distortion upon said impact, thereby preserving the upper section for re-installation after an impact.
 3. The post of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said one clamp member below said weakened zone is frangible to break upon excessive tensioning of the lower bolt as by tilting of the coupling upon impact, whereby said lower bolt is freed to move into the channel of said lower post section and to retain said coupling and upper section under control following the impact.
 4. The post of claim 1 in which the other of said clamp members is of channel shape confining the back and sides of the adjacent portions of said post sections. 